Inhibition of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity by alkenal products of lipid peroxidation

Lipid peroxidation causes the generation of the neurotoxic aldehydes acrolein and 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE). These products are elevated in neurodegenerative diseases and acute CNS trauma. Previous studies demonstrate that mitochondrial class 2 aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is susceptible to inactivation by these alkenals. In the liver and brain another mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase, succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH/ALDH5A1), is present. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that aldehyde products of lipid peroxidation inhibit SSADH activity using the endogenous substrate, succinic semialdehyde (SSA, 50 microM). Acrolein potently inhibited SSADH activity (IC(50)=15 microM) in rat brain mitochondrial preparations. This inhibition was of an irreversible and noncompetitive nature. HNE inhibited activity with an IC(50) of 110 microM. Trans-2-hexenal (HEX) and crotonaldehyde (100 microM each) did not inhibit activity. These data suggest that acrolein and HNE disrupt SSA metabolism and may have subsequent effects on CNS neurochemistry.     

Studies on Analogues of Succinic Semialdehyde as Substrates for Succinate Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase from Rat Brain

The methyl ester of succinic semialdehyde (SSA) was examined as a substrate for succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) from rat brain. It was found that the ester can be oxidized by the enzyme. Values of Km for SSA-Me were higher than for those for SSA, and for this substrate the enzyme showed a substrate-dependent inhibition. This finding suggests that the carboxylate group of SSA is not essential in the process of inhibition of SSADH by the substrate. Cyclopropyl analogues of SSA, cis- and trans-1-formyl-cyclopropan-2-carboxylic acids, were also individually tested as substrates of SSADH. Only the trans isomer was found to be oxidized to the corresponding dicarboxylic acid; it inhibited the enzyme in the same range of concentrations as SSA. The above data suggest that, as for gamma-aminobutyric acid, SSA is present in an unfolded, transoid conformation at the active site of SSADH.     

Succinic semialdehyde couples stress response to quorum-sensing signal decay in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Quorum sensing (QS) signal decay in Agrobacterium tumefaciens occurs in response to starvation or host signals. We have demonstrated that the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt metabolite links stress response to QS signal decay. Mutation of the aldH gene encoding a succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) that converts succinic semialdehyde (SSA) to succinic acid results in early expression of the signal degrading enzyme, AttM. Exogenous addition of SSA or its precursor GABA induces AttM expression and abolishes Ti plasmid conjugative transfer. SSA acts by binding to the repressor AttJ that regulates the attKLM operon. attK encodes another SSADH. The stress alarmone ppGpp and SSA modulates separately the expression of the two SSADH enzymes, which might control the intracellular SSA level and hence to switch on/off the QS signal decay system in response to environmental changes. These findings document for the first time a sophisticated signalling mechanism of the widely conserved GABA degradation pathway in prokaryotes.     

Mechanism of action of an anticonvulsant, sodium dipropylacetate

The hypothesis that the brain GABA level increase which is induced by a sodium dipropyl acetate treatment arises either through inhibition of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH), or through inhibition of GABA transaminase by succinic semialdehyde (SSA), has been considered. It appeared that in vivo brain GABA level increase cannot be attributed to SSADH inhibition, and that SSA is not a GABA precursor. It has been shown that SSA is neither in vivo nor in vitro a GABA-transaminase inhibitor. 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, a potent SSADH inhibitor did not increase GABA level at a dosage which induces a 99% inhibition of SSADH.     

The conserved R166 residue of ALDH5A (succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase) has multiple functional roles

ALDH5 (aka succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase) is a NAD(+)-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase crucial for the proper removal of the GABA metabolite succinic semialdehyde (SSA). All known ALDH5 family members contain the conserved amino acid sequence "MITRK". Our studies of rat ALDH5A indicate that residue R166 in this sequence may play a role in the substrate specificity of ALDH5A for the gamma-carboxylated succinic semialdehyde versus other aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes including acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde. We tested the hypothesis that the R166 residue regulates aldehyde specificity by utilizing rat ALDH5A wild-type (R166wt) and R166K, R166H, R166A, and R166E mutants. The V(MAX) using SSA fell whereas the K(M) for SSA increased for all mutants analyzed yielding k(cat)/K(M) (s(-1)/microM) ratios of 52.3 (R166wt), 5.5 (R166K), 0.01 (R166H), 0.008 (R166E), and 0.004 (R166A). Utilization of acetaldehyde by the R166H mutant was similar to R166wt with k(cat)/K(M)'s of 0.003 and 0.002, respectively. Almost no activity towards acetaldehyde was noted for the R166E and R166A mutants. Unexpectedly, the K(M) for NAD(+) changed: 21 microM (R166wt), 81 microM (R166K), 63 microM (R166H), 35 microM (R166E) and 44 microM (R166A). As release of NADH can be a rate-limiting step for ALDH activity, NADH binding was evaluated for R166wt and R166H enzymes. The K(D) of NADH for R166H (0.9 microM) was 11-fold less than that of ALDH5A wt (10.3 microM) and possibly explains the increase in the K(M) for NAD(+). Furthermore, data using R166K and R166H mutants demonstrate that inhibition of enzyme activity by low pH is regulated in part by the R166 residue. Our data indicate that the R166 residue of ALDH5A regulates multiple enzymatic functions.     

Saturation transfer difference NMR studies on substrates and inhibitors of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenases

Saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR experiments on Escherichia coli and Drosophila melanogaster succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH, EC1.2.1.24) suggest that only the aldehyde forms and not the gem-diol forms of the specific substrate succinic semialdehyde (SSA), of selected aldehyde substrates, and of the inhibitor 3-tolualdehyde bind to these enzymes. Site-directed mutagenesis of the active site cysteine311 to alanine in D. melanogaster SSADH leads to an inactive product binding both SSA aldehyde and gem-diol. Thus, the residue cysteine311 is crucial for their discrimination. STD experiments on SSADH and NAD⁺/NADP⁺ indicate differential affinity in agreement with the respective cosubstrate properties. Epitope mapping by STD points to a strong interaction of the NAD⁺/NADP⁺ adenine H2 proton with SSADH. Adenine H8, nicotinamide H2, H4, and H6 also show STD signals. Saturation transfer to the ribose moieties is limited to the anomeric protons of E. coli SSADH suggesting that the NAD⁺/NADP⁺ adenine and nicotinamide, but not the ribose moieties are important for the binding of the coenzymes.     

Unraveling the function of paralogs of the aldehyde dehydrogenase super family from Sulfolobus solfataricus

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) have been well established in all three domains of life and were shown to play essential roles, e.g., in intermediary metabolism and detoxification. In the genome of Sulfolobus solfataricus, five paralogs of the aldehyde dehydrogenases superfamily were identified, however, so far only the non-phosphorylating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPN) and α-ketoglutaric semialdehyde dehydrogenase (α-KGSADH) have been characterized. Detailed biochemical analyses of the remaining three ALDHs revealed the presence of two succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) isoenzymes catalyzing the NAD(P)⁺-dependent oxidation of succinic semialdehyde. Whereas SSO1629 (SSADH-I) is specific for NAD⁺, SSO1842 (SSADH-II) exhibits dual cosubstrate specificity (NAD(P)⁺). Physiological significant activity for both SSO-SSADHs was only detected with succinic semialdehyde and α-ketoglutarate semialdehyde. Bioinformatic reconstructions suggest a major function of both enzymes in γ-aminobutyrate, polyamine as well as nitrogen metabolism and they might additionally also function in pentose metabolism. Phylogenetic studies indicated a close relationship of SSO-SSALDHs to GAPNs and also a convergent evolution with the SSADHs from E. coli. Furthermore, for SSO1218, methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (MSDH) activity was demonstrated. The enzyme catalyzes the NAD⁺- and CoA-dependent oxidation of methylmalonate semialdehyde, malonate semialdehyde as well as propionaldehyde (PA). For MSDH, a major function in the degradation of branched chain amino acids is proposed which is supported by the high sequence homology with characterized MSDHs from bacteria. This is the first report of MSDH as well as SSADH isoenzymes in Archaea.     

Functional characterization of a Drosophila melanogaster succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase and a non-specific aldehyde dehydrogenase

The putative Drosophila (D.) melanogaster gene ortholog of mammalian succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH, EC1.2.1.24; NM_143151) that is involved in the degradation of the neurotransmitter GABA, and the putative D. melanogaster aldehyde dehydrogenase gene Aldh (NM_135441) were cloned and expressed as enzymatically active maltose binding protein (MalE) fusion products in Escherichia coli. The identities of the NM_143151 gene product as NAD+-dependent SSADH and of the Aldh gene product as NAD+-dependent non-specific aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH, EC1.2.1.3) were established by substrate specificity studies using 30 different aldehydes. In the case of D. melanogaster MalE-SSADH, the Michaelis constants (K(M)s) for the specific substrates succinic semialdehyde and NAD+ was 4.7 and 90.9 microM, respectively. For D. melanogaster MalE-ALDH the K(M) of the putative in vivo substrate acetaldehyde was 0.9 microM while for NAD+, a K(M) of 62.7 microM was determined. Site-directed mutagenesis studies on D. melanogaster MalE-SSADH suggest that cysteine 311 and glutamic acid 277 of this enzyme are likely candidates for the active site residues directly involved in catalysis.     

Mitochondrial oxidation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in rat cerebral cortex

4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE) is a neurotoxic product of lipid peroxidation whose levels are elevated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases and CNS trauma. The detoxification of HNE may take the route of glutathione conjugation to the C3 carbon and the oxidation or reduction of the C1 aldehyde. In this work, we examined whether the oxidation of HNE to its corresponding carboxylic acid, 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenoate (HNEAcid) was detoxifying event, if it occurred in rat cerebral cortex, and in which subcellular compartments. Our results show that HNEAcid did not form protein adducts and was non-toxic to Neuro 2A cells. HNEAcid formation occurred in rat cerebral cortex slices following exposure to HNE in a time-dependent and dose-dependent fashion. Homogenate studies indicated that HNEAcid formation was NAD+ dependent. Subcellular fractionation demonstrated that mitochondria had the highest specific activity for HNEAcid formation with a KM of 21 micro m HNE. These data indicate that oxidation of HNE to its corresponding acid is a major detoxification pathway of HNE in the CNS and that mitochondria play a role in this process.     

Characterisation of a novel mouse liver aldo-keto reductase AKR7A5

We have characterised a novel aldo-keto reductase (AKR7A5) from mouse liver that is 78% identical to rat aflatoxin dialdehyde reductase AKR7A1 and 89% identical to human succinic semialdehyde (SSA) reductase AKR7A2. AKR7A5 can reduce 2-carboxybenzaldehyde (2-CBA) and SSA as well as a range of aldehyde and diketone substrates. Western blots show that it is expressed in liver, kidney, testis and brain, and at lower levels in skeletal muscle, spleen heart and lung. The protein is not inducible in the liver by dietary ethoxyquin. Immunodepletion of AKR7A5 from liver extracts shows that it is one of the major liver 2-CBA reductases but that it is not the main SSA reductase in this tissue.     

Cloning and expression of succinic semialdehyde reductase from human brain. Identity with aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase.

The neuromodulator gamma-hydroxybutyrate is synthesized in vivo from gamma-aminobutyrate by transamination to succinic semialdehyde and subsequent reduction of the aldehyde group. In human brain, succinic semialdehyde reductase is thought to be responsible for the conversion of succinic semialdehyde to gamma-hydroxybutyrate. In the present work, we cloned the cDNA coding for succinic semialdehyde reductase and expressed it in Escherichia coli. A data bank search indicated that the enzyme is identical with aflatoxin B1-aldehyde reductase, an enzyme implicated in the detoxification of xenobiotic carbonyl compounds. Structurally, succinic semialdehyde reductase thus belongs to the aldo-keto reductase superfamily. The recombinant protein was indistinguishable from native human brain succinic semialdehyde reductase by SDS/PAGE. In addition to succinic semialdehyde, it readily catalyzed the reduction 9,10-phenanthrene quinone, phenylglyoxal and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, typical substrates of aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase. The results suggest multiple functions of succinic semialdehyde reductase/aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase in the biosynthesis of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and the detoxification of xenobiotic carbonyl compounds, respectively.     

The oxidation of choline by liver slices and mitochondria during liver development in the rat

Betaine is the major oxidation product of [Me-¹⁴C] choline produced by rat liver slices. Liver slices from adult rats rapidly oxidize [Me-¹⁴C] choline to betaine and the bulk of the betaine produced is recovered in the incubation medium. Considerably more choline is oxidized to betaine than is phosphorylated to phosphorylcholine. The rate of phosphorylation of choline appears to be independent of the rate of choline oxidation. Liver slices from fetal and young rats oxidize choline to betaine at a lower rate than adult liver slices.The ability of mitochondria to oxidize [Me-¹⁴C] choline to betaine aldehyde and betaine is considerably lower in fetal liver than in adult liver. The major product with both fetal and adult mitochondria is betaine aldehyde. Choline oxidation by mitochondria begins to increase 1 day prior to birth and increases progressively to adult levels by 18 days. The developmental pattern for choline oxidation is similar to the pattern for succinic dehydrogenase activity.     

A novel alpha-ketoglutaric semialdehyde dehydrogenase: evolutionary insight into an alternative pathway of bacterial L-arabinose metabolism

Azospirillum brasilense possesses an alternative pathway of l-arabinose metabolism, which is different from the known bacterial and fungal pathways. In a previous paper (Watanabe, S., Kodaki, T., and Makino, K. (2006) J. Biol. Chem. 281, 2612-2623), we identified and characterized l-arabinose 1-dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the first reaction step in this pathway, and we cloned the corresponding gene. Here we focused on the fifth enzyme, alpha-ketoglutaric semialdehyde (alphaKGSA) dehydrogenase, catalyzing the conversion of alphaKGSA to alpha-ketoglutarate. alphaKGSA dehydrogenase was purified tentatively as a NAD(+)-preferring aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) with high activity for glutaraldehyde. The gene encoding this enzyme was cloned and shown to be located on the genome of A. brasilense separately from a gene cluster containing the l-arabinose 1-dehydrogenase gene, in contrast with Burkholderia thailandensis in which both genes are located in the same gene cluster. Higher catalytic efficiency of ALDH was found with alphaKGSA and succinic semialdehyde among the tested aldehyde substrates. In zymogram staining analysis with the cell-free extract, a single active band was found at the same position as the purified enzyme. Furthermore, a disruptant of the gene did not grow on l-arabinose. These results indicated that this ALDH gene was the only gene of the NAD(+)-preferring alphaKGSA dehydrogenase in A. brasilense. In the phylogenetic tree of the ALDH family, alphaKGSA dehydrogenase from A. brasilense falls into the succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSALDH) subfamily. Several putative alphaKGSA dehydrogenases from other bacteria belong to a different ALDH subfamily from SSALDH, suggesting strongly that their substrate specificities for alphaKGSA are acquired independently during the evolutionary stage. This is the first evidence of unique "convergent evolution" in the ALDH family.     

Diabetes impairs the enzymatic disposal of 4-hydroxynonenal in rat liver

This study assesses whether the HNE accumulation we formerly observed in liver microsomes and mitochondria of BB/Wor diabetic rats depends on an increased rate of lipoperoxidation or on impairment of enzymatic removal. There are three main HNE metabolizing enzymes: glutathione-S-transferase (GST), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). In this study we show that GST and ALDH activities are reduced in liver microsomes and mitochondria of diabetic rats; in contrast, ADH activity remains unchanged. The role of each enzyme in HNE removal was evaluated by using enzymatic inhibitors. The roles of both GST and ALDH were markedly reduced in diabetic rats, while ADH-mediated consumption was significantly increased. However, the higher level of lipohydroperoxides in diabetic liver indicated more marked lipoperoxidation. We therefore think that HNE accumulation in diabetic liver may depend on both mechanisms: increased lipoperoxidation and decreased enzymatic removal. We suggest that glycoxidation and/or hyperglycemic pseudohypoxia may be involved in the enzymatic impairment observed. Moreover, since HNE exerts toxic effects on enzymes, HNE accumulation, deficiency of HNE removal, and production of reactive oxygen species can generate vicious circles able to amplify the damage.     

The ALDH21 gene found in lower plants and some vascular plants codes for a NADP+‐dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase

Lower plant species including some green algae, non‐vascular plants (bryophytes) as well as the oldest vascular plants (lycopods) and ferns (monilophytes) possess a unique aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) gene named ALDH21, which is upregulated during dehydration. However, the gene is absent in flowering plants. Here, we show that ALDH21 from the moss Physcomitrella patens codes for a tetrameric NADP⁺‐dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSALDH), which converts succinic semialdehyde, an intermediate of the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt pathway, into succinate in the cytosol. NAD⁺ is a very poor coenzyme for ALDH21 unlike for mitochondrial SSALDHs (ALDH5), which are the closest related ALDH members. Structural comparison between the apoform and the coenzyme complex reveal that NADP⁺ binding induces a conformational change of the loop carrying Arg‐228, which seals the NADP⁺ in the coenzyme cavity via its 2′‐phosphate and α‐phosphate groups. The crystal structure with the bound product succinate shows that its carboxylate group establishes salt bridges with both Arg‐121 and Arg‐457, and a hydrogen bond with Tyr‐296. While both arginine residues are pre‐formed for substrate/product binding, Tyr‐296 moves by more than 1 Å. Both R121A and R457A variants are almost inactive, demonstrating a key role of each arginine in catalysis. Our study implies that bryophytes but presumably also some green algae, lycopods and ferns, which carry both ALDH21 and ALDH5 genes, can oxidize SSAL to succinate in both cytosol and mitochondria, indicating a more diverse GABA shunt pathway compared with higher plants carrying only the mitochondrial ALDH5.     

The oxidation of proline by mitochondrial preparations

The oxidation by mitochondria of various rat tissues of proline, pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) and a number of aldehydes has been studied and ADP/O ratios determined for liver mitochondria. High oxidative activity for proline and P5C was found only in the liver and kidney. During the oxidation by liver and kidney mitochondria of proline and P5C; glutamate, ammonia, aspartate and some ornithine accumulated, thus suggesting that proline may normally be converted to ornithine by mitochondria. The oxidation of P5C (glutamic acid semialdehyde) by a mitochondrial dehydrogenase may be the same enzyme that oxidizes succinic acid semi-aldehyde but different from that oxidizing acetaldehyde.     

Modeling conformational redox‐switch modulation of human succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) converts succinic semialdehyde (SSA) to succinic acid in the mitochondrial matrix and is involved in the metabolism of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA). The molecular structure of human SSADH revealed the intrinsic regulatory mechanism—redox‐switch modulation—by which large conformational changes are brought about in the catalytic loop through disulfide bonding. The crystal structures revealed two SSADH conformations, and computational modeling of transformation between them can provide substantial insights into detailed dynamic redox modulation. On the basis of these two clear crystal structures, we modeled the conformational motion between these structures in silico. For that purpose, we proposed and used a geometry‐based coarse‐grained mathematical model of long‐range protein motion and the related modeling algorithm. The algorithm is based on solving the special optimization problem, which is similar to the classical Monge–Kantorovich mass transportation problem. The modeled transformation was supported by another morphing method based on a completely different framework. The result of the modeling facilitates better interpretation and understanding of the SSADH biological role. Proteins 2015; 83:2217–2229. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enzymatic and metabolic evidence for a region specific mitochondrial dysfunction in brains of murine succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (Aldh5a1-/- mice)

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, a rare inherited defect of gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) catabolism, presents with characteristic biochemical abnormalities in the central nervous system (CNS). These include elevated concentrations of GABA, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), succinic semialdehyde (SSA), 4,5-dihydroxyhexanoic acid (DHHA) and alanine as well as decreased concentrations of glutamine. GABA degradation is coupled to Krebs cycle function in mammalian CNS ("GABA shunt") through succinate and alpha-ketoglutarate. Accordingly, we hypothesized that disruption of Krebs cycle and respiratory chain function in the CNS is involved in the neuropathogenesis of this disease. For this purpose, we investigated cerebral activities of Krebs cycle and respiratory chain enzymes as well as the glutathione content in Aldh5a1(-/-) mice, a recently generated mouse model for this disease. In CNS tissue of Aldh5a1(-/-) mice, we found a significantly decreased glutathione content (hippocampus, cortex) and decreased activities of complexes I-IV (hippocampus) suggesting increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, specific activities of Krebs cycle and respiratory chain were not affected by GABA, GHB, SSA, or DHHA (up to 1 mmol/L). Although our results suggest hippocampal and cortical dysfunction in Aldh5a1(-/-) brain, we found no evidence that accumulating key metabolites of SSADH deficiency directly induce impairment of energy metabolism.